Preview, round four: Severn Valley Historic Challenge

The 2006 HRCR Classic Stage Rally Challenge returns to gravel stages for round four, the Severn Valley Historic Challenge on Saturday 3 June.

An excellent 17-strong Classic field has entered the Severn Valley, which will take crews into the Wales Rally GB stages of Brechfa and Trawscoed for the first time.

These stages are very close to home for Carmarthenshire's Gareth Lloyd and his West Wales Rally Spares Escort Mk2 will start as favourite to make it four wins from four rounds in 2006. Regular co-driver Ryland James will be back on the pace notes and Lloyd will be very tough to beat, even though he's not rallied very much in his local forests.

Another local driver is Terry Brown, who is partnered by Paul Willets in his Escort Mk2, but Brown hasn't been in these forests for two decades, so like Lloyd, local knowledge won't really be a factor.

Stuart Clarke was bang on the Classic pace on the Astra and will continue that form in his Escort Mk2, while James Potter and Bob Stokoe will relish a return both to gravel and stages they've driven before in their Escort Mk2.

Meanwhile, making the trek down from the north east will be Charlie Taylor/Steve Bielby in their Mk2 and the lack of local knowledge won't slow them very much. More strong runners in D5 include the Escorts of Dick Slaughter/Geoff Dearing, Martin Jones/Kevin Owens and Grant Shand/David Young.

However, a real darkhorse in D5 could be the Ford Capri RS3100 of Jeremy Easson/Den Golding. The eagerly awaited debut of this car has been delayed a couple of times, but if the car is ready it should be a stunning addition to the Classic field. Meanwhile, offering variety to the Escort pack will be the Talbot Sunbeam Lotuses of Julian Burch/Chris Derbyshire and Adrian Seabridge/Daniel Seabridge.

Class D3 promises an interesting battle between the Pinto-powered Escort Mk2s of Richard Lane/Frank Richer and Mark Clifford/Brett Clifford, who will go head to head for the first time. However, rapid newcomer Arwel Evans, partnered by Paul Wakely, is coming on strong even though he has still only contested four rallies.The Severn Valley Historic Challenge is organised by Midland Manor Motor Club Ltd and Ludlow Castle Motor Club Ltd.

For more details about the event severnvalleynational.co.uk

The historic rally starts from Builth Wells at 8am on Saturday, 3 June.